Join us October 10-12, 2024

REGISTER

THE "FALLING INTO AUTUMN" JAM
As we head into the season of harvest and coziness, we want to dance with you at the “Falling into Autumn” annual weekend-long jam! Oct 10-12, at the National Ballet School in Toronto, 400 Jarvis street. 

We’re creating a weekend of dancing, connection, and care—centered on trust, open communication, and being in space together. This jam is access-focused and intentionally welcoming, with efforts to remove barriers so more folks can join us.

Contact improvisation is magical because it's not codified—everyone brings their own style. We celebrate dancers of all experience levels, identities, and body types. Your presence, your body, and your lived experience are what will make this jam amazing. 

Whatever your style, we offer options to support you: technique classes with local and traveling teachers, guided jams with themes like the Blindfold jam, and open jams for unstructured exploration. An Elder Guest who’s been dancing CI for 45 years will also be present to be with us with his knowledge and experience. 

Inspired by the season, we’re making the space cozy with cushions and mats in the studios for when you want to rest while staying in the room. Saturday night we’ll share a catered dinner and enjoy film screenings of contact dance from around the world, including local submissions. With just 1–2 events at a time, there’s space to breathe, dance, and truly get to know each other.

We hope you’ll finish this weekend feeling a sense of collaboration and togetherness with your fellow dancers, and a sense of excitement and inspiration for your own dancing. 

 ORGANISERS:
Adrian Chuquipiondo
Sarah Jones
Kathleen Rea
Apples Sebastian
Jayeden Walker

TEACHERS:
Sashah Klapkew - Salt Spring Island
Kathleen Rea - Toronto
Tanya Williams - Kitchener/Waterloo
Kunji Ikeda - Toronto
Sarah Jones - Toronto

MUSICIAN IN RESIDENCE:  Janice Jo Lee

CI ELDER GUESTS: Martin Keogh

TRAILERS:

Festival: https://youtu.be/7GIAY5GJbkU 

Meet Sashah Klapkew:  https://youtu.be/unaSCg-7avM 

Film Screening trailer:  https://youtu.be/6ntvPWpYVk4 

MEALS
Participants will provide their meals
However, on Saturday night, we will have a catered Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-free group Harvest dinner. Please note there will be a chicken topping option for those who need meat.

DATES AND TIMES:
Friday, October 10, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Saturday, October 12, 2025, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

LOCATION:
Celia Franca Centre, 400 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G6, Canada (wheelchair accessible and barrier-free)

RATES
$175 Full Festival Early-bird (Paying by October 1)

$200 Full Festival Late-bird (Paying after October 1)
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$25 Just Friday Night

$110 Just Saturday

$90 Just Sunday
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$10 Just Every Body Can Dance Jam

$10 Just IBPOC Jam

$20 Just the Film Screening

$20 Just the Ecstatic Dance

$25 Double package the Film Screening and the Ecstatic Dance

SCHOLARSHIPS:
No one gets turned away due to a lack of funds.
Contact kathleenrea@reasondetre.com if you need more support than the above scale affords and we will give you a discount code to purchase a pass.

SCHEDULE:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NsNtSqeLRHNaFbM3dZDnpwVoK7iMALT_/view?usp=drive_link

BILLETING
Adrian Chuquipiondo is organizing the billeting. Contact him through our billet forms
Billet request: https://forms.gle/KdN5bQMUfWppFLJd8

Host volunteer: https://forms.gle/UNyYqyWAyA7iw2MYA

ACCESS: Celia Franca Center is a barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible space. Wellesley is the closest subway station with an elevator. If you have accessibility questions or want to discuss accommodation that you may need, please get in touch with kathleen.rea@reasondetre.com

JAM GUIDELINES:
All participants must read at the point of purchase.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VvM85pJ_2gE58dANWztFLy5N4KoAZ49U/view?usp=drive_link

QUESTIONS:
Please send questions to kathleen.rea@reasondetre.com

ILLNESS PREVENTION POLICY:

- Masking is by choice (about 5% to 10% of participants tend to wear masks)

- Please do not attend if you are sick

- Please cover any skin sores with a medical-grade band aid.

REFUND POLICY:
Refunds with two-week notice will be minus a $20 admin fee.

Refunds with less than two-week notice will be minus a $40 admin fee (we will have already paid for your catered meal)

REASON D'ETRE DANCE IS SUPPORTED BY:
The Toronto Arts Council
Ontario Arts Council (through the Ontario Government)
Canadian Heritage Foundation
Some of the equipment was funded through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

PRODUCED BY:
REAson d’etre dance (RDD) www.reasondetre.com